How does Leviticus 15:28 emphasize the importance of purification before worshiping God? Leviticus 15:28 in Context • “When she is cleansed of her discharge, she must count off seven days, and after that she will be clean.” • This verse sits within laws governing bodily discharges, stressing God’s concern that anything unclean be resolved before a person re-enters normal community life or worship. The Purification Process Described • Physical condition ends → a literal seven-day waiting period begins. • During those seven days the woman remains mindful of her status: not yet free to participate in sanctuary worship or daily fellowship. • At the close of seven days she is declared “clean,” then (vv. 29-30) presents two birds—one for a sin offering, one for a burnt offering—underscoring that cleansing is completed only when God’s prescribed sacrifice is brought. Why This Emphasizes Purity before Worship • God sets the timetable, the procedure, and the offerings; worship on human terms is unacceptable. • The seven-day span prevents rushing back into holy spaces, illustrating that purity is a deliberate, not casual, matter. • Sacrifice follows cleansing, reminding Israel that restored access to God always rests on substitutionary atonement (cf. Leviticus 17:11). Biblical Echoes of the Same Principle • Exodus 19:10-11—before Sinai, Israel must wash garments and wait: approach is preceded by purification. • Psalm 24:3-4—“Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? … He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” • Isaiah 6:5-7—even the prophet needs cleansing coal before speaking for God. • Hebrews 10:22—“let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience.” Spiritual Lessons for Believers • Uncleanness points to sin’s defilement; purity laws teach that moral and spiritual stain block fellowship with a holy God. • Christ fulfills what the offerings foreshadowed (Hebrews 9:13-14); His blood provides final purification, yet the call to practical holiness remains (1 Peter 1:15-16). • Believers examine themselves (2 Corinthians 13:5), confess sin (1 John 1:9), and pursue clean hands and hearts (James 4:8) before engaging in worship, serving, or participating in the Lord’s Table (1 Corinthians 11:28). Key Takeaway Leviticus 15:28 underscores that approaching God is never casual; cleansing, waiting, and sacrifice come first. The verse invites worshipers in every age to value holiness and rely wholly on God’s appointed means of purification. |
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